The Charts of Radius Stage Adjusted Height-for-age and Weight-for-age Growth Curves of Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Abstract Objective To develop charts of percentile of height-for-age and weight-for-age adjusted by radial stage for provide a tool for evaluating the growth and development of children with "advanced" and "delayed" maturity. Methods The sample of 15598 healthy children (boys 7733, girls 7865) aged 3-19 years were from the “The Skeletal Development Standards of Hand and Wrist for Chinese Children-China 05”. The radius stage (RS) of was evaluated by TW grading standard. The correlation coefficients between height and weight and RS, as well as between chronological age and height and weight within RS were calculated. Box-Cox power exponential distribution model was used to calculate the radius stage adjusted (RSA) height-for -age and weight-for -age percentile curve. Using Matlab, RSA height-for-age and weight-for-age percentile curves were superimposed on Height and weight standardized growth chares for Chinese children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years. Results During the growth period, height and weight of children were significantly correlated with radial developmental stages (RS). Within RS, the chronological age of children was significantly correlated with their height and weight, but the correlation coefficient decreased with the increase of RS. Twenty-eight RSA height-for-age and weight-for-age growth charts were obtained by calculating percentile curves of height and weight within the radius stage. The adjustments for height and weight were smaller by the RSA charts during childhood, and larger in adolescence. Conclusion RSA height -for-age and weight-for-age growth charts provide a useful tool for adjusting the results of assessment in “advanced” and “delayed” children and adolescents.